Live updates April 27: More businesses, beaches open as Coast sees 4 new COVID-19 cases

As non-essential stores begin to reopen today, the Mississippi State Department of Health reports 183 new cases of coronavirus, 42 of them in long-term care facilities.

The state now has 6,094 cases and 229 deaths, with 2 additional deaths reported today. Neither of those deaths was in South Mississippi, which hasn’t had a death reported since Saturday.

The six lower counties have 645 cases and 32 deaths. With 4 new cases reported in South Mississippi today, it was the fourth straight decrease, from 17 on Thursday, down to 16 on Friday, 10 Saturday, 6 Sunday and 4 Monday.

Total cases in South Mississippi are:

George — 11 (0 new)

Hancock — 60 (0 new)

Harrison — 159 (1 new)

Jackson — 240 (2 new)

Pearl River —153 (1 new)

Stone —22 (0 new)

The Centers for Disease Control reported the fewest one-day deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. since April 14. There were 1,463 deaths, down from 2,020 on Sunday. The number of cases dropped for the third straight day to 29,256.

Total cases nationwide are nearing 1 million with 957,875 cases and 53,922 deaths.

6:51 p.m.

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to open their beaches at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

The board voted 5-0 to open beaches to the public after they were initially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Facilities like bathrooms and volleyball courts will remain closed, but people will be allowed to go to the beach as long as they don’t gather in groups of 10 or more people.

3:38 p.m.

The 403rd Wing’s Flying Jennies stationed at Keesler Air Force Base will be doing flyovers at six different medical facilities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Tuesday as a tribute to all healthcare workers.

The schedule for flyovers are:

6:10 p.m. — Garden Park Medical.

6:20 p.m. — Gulfport Memorial Hospital.

6:30 p.m. — Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System.

6:35 p.m. — Keesler Air Force Medical Center

6:40 p.m. — Merit Health in Biloxi

6:45 p.m. — Ocean Springs Hospital.

12:45 p.m.

The Mississippi Legislature will reconvene the 2020 Legislative Session on Monday, May 18.

The Legislature recessed its 125-day Session temporarily on March 18 due to the coronavirus.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, House Speaker Philip Gunn and members of the Legislature continue to analyze the impact of the pandemic and federal funds from the CARES Act relief package on the state’s emergency response efforts, healthcare facilities and the state budget.

Analysts say all agencies have the funds to meet their immediate financial needs. Hosemann and Gunn have reserved the right to reconvene earlier than May 18 if necessary. They also are establishing guidelines to allow as much access as possible while protecting the health and safety of those in the capitol.

12:03 p.m.

The City of Gautier will distribute free hand sanitizer to Gautier residents at Singing River Mall from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday.

Each vehicle will receive one 6-ounce container of hand sanitizer after showing proof residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill. The Gautier Fire Department will be distributing the hand sanitizer until supplies run out.

The entrance will be off Dolphin Drive. An arrow will direct traffic to make a right turn and a Gautier police offer will be there to verify residency.

“We would like to thank Merchants and Marine Bank and Family Frozen Foods for making this hand sanitizer giveaway possible,” Gautier City Manager Paula Yancey said in a press release.

Noon

Today is Confederate Memorial Day, a state holiday. Some city, county and state offices not already closed by the coronavirus may be closed for the holiday.

11:45 a.m.

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula reports another positive case of coronavirus, bringing the total to 30. This employee at LPD 28 was last in the yard was April 23. Of the 30 cases, 13 now are eligible to return to work.

10 p.m.

Garden Park Medical Center today began performing some surgical and other procedures that had been delayed due to the coronavirus. CEO Randy Rogers said elective procedures are not the same as optional procedures that can be delayed indefinitely.

All patients, visitors and staff will be screened before entering facilities. Other safety measures are all caregivers wear masks and separate areas and staff for non-coronavirus patients, outpatient and patients with scheduled procedures.

8:30 a.m.

The three beaches in Jackson County re-opened today — Front and East Beach in Ocean Springs and the beach in Pascagoula.

7:30 a.m.

A temporary Memorial Physician Clinic Drive-Up COVID-19 screening and testing site will be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday at Woolmarket Civic Center, 16320 Old Woolmarket Road, Biloxi.

Individuals are urged to visit the temporary site if they have been experiencing flu-like symptoms, body aches, fever, coughing, sneezing, chills or shortness of breath. Only those who have symptoms will be tested.

7 a.m.

A person who is over age 100 and is beating COVID-19 was released from the hospital over the weekend, said CEO Lee Bond. Only 1 positive test result was received Saturday and 0 on Sunday.

Highlights from the weekend:

▪ Gov. Tate Reeves’ new shelter-in-place order goes into effect at 8 a.m. Monday. Read the details here.

▪ The Mississippi State Department of Health on Sunday reported 193 new coronavirus cases and 6 new deaths. In the lower six counties of South Mississippi, there were 6 new cases and no new deaths.

▪ Reeves on Saturday night responded to critics asking why he didn’t wait for 14 days of declining numbers, as recommended by the White House:

▪ MSDH announced over 60,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in the state — 11,591 by the Public Health Lab and 49,197 by hospitals and other providers, for a total of 60,788 Mississippians tested since the pandemic began.

▪ Dozens of Mississippi protesters drove around downtown Jackson on Saturday, honking horns and encircling the Governor’s Mansion in an effort to get Gov. Tate Reeves to fully reopen the state.

▪ Coast Transit Authority will reestablish the fixed route bus service Tuesday, April 28, with some restrictions. All routes will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There will not be any service on Sunday.

▪ D’Iberville has rescinded its stay-at-home order and curfew and will comply with the governor’s safer at home order starting Monday, the city announced Saturday.

▪ Jackson County beaches will open Monday and be patrolled by constables. Jackson County Tax Collector offices will open Monday only for new vehicle and mobile home registrations. The Tax Assessor Office will be opening to process Homestead Exemption Applications only.

This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 10:36 AM.